Shock absorber



L. L. LOMAR SHOCK ABsoRBER Dec. 9, 1930.

Filed Aug. 26, 1926 Mun/stole [02u15 L. am

6 3 A wir 4% Patented Dec. 9, 1930 TES.

Louis Loma, .or HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNORQFTQRTY-NINE QnE-'HIINQRBDTHS lTo nousToNfcpmmn, or HOUSTON. TEXAS, ALCQRRORATIQN v...0.11 TEXAS sirocx ABsQnBER Y 'Appiicatioaieanugust,26, 1e 2 6. sei-inno. 131,684,

vMy invention relates toy shock absorbers adapted to be used on automobiles and similar structures, and particularly to shock absorbers of the'type in which a piston moves within a fluidV containing cylinder. Y

Shock absorbers of this type are usually constructed so -as `to permit aportion of the iuid in the path of the lcompressing or moving member to escape to space `out ofthe path ofthe vmoving member. Valved pas sagewaysto permit the escape of the fluid" at a rate sufficiently slow to retard the movement of the moving member are ordinarily'pro# vided. Theports of the tabove-mentioned valves of the shock absorbers now iny use usuallyhafve a fixed or constant area and it there' forei follows that .the fluid `escapes fromjthe path. of the movingy or compressing member at afixed and ,constant ratetof flow, regard-` less of the position of the compressing mem-l ber. Y

Another disadvantage 'of most fluid-type shock absorbers resides in the fact that the fluid is compressed by slight movements of thevehicle, such as may develop upon ordinarily smooth roads. The ordinary vehicle springs are constructed to efficiently counteract these slighteshocks and if'the shock .absorber interferes with the springmotion in such cases, the easyfriding quality ofthe automobileis seriously affected.

The .principal object of my invention is to providea shockabsorberofthis general type in which the rate of `flow of the fluid from the path e of the compressing member will be varied according to the position of the coin-- pressing member. Y,

Another object of myinvention is to provide a shock absorber of thepiston type which willbe sogconstructed as to permit Vfreefmovement ofthe vehicle spring during travelov'er ordinarily smooth roadways.

A Ifurther object of my invention isa shock absorber of the ,fluid `type f which is simple in construction .and manufacture but which willy entirely enclose lall moving parts and will thoroughly lubricate all parts.

A still further object isthe' provision of means to readilyV adjust the valves of the shock absorber so thatV the rate of flow of thev fluidl 4may be readily adjusted. for various types ofautomobiles andr differing road conditiofn's. i y Y still vfurther object of the invention is the lprovision. of a reservoir for the Huid provided with means to regulate the flow of liquidi lbetween the lreservoir and the Ifluid cylinder in accordance with the position-of the'compressing member or pistoninthe fluid cylinder. w

VF ig. lv ofthe drawings 4is a vertical sectional-view of the shock absorber.'v Fig. 2 isa `horizontal sectional View, talren on therline`2-2 of Fig.Y l. Y V j l is `a`horizontal sectional View showing themannerin which Athe pivoted valves of the devicelmaybeplacedin'position.l

:In the drawings5the numeral l designates anuppercasing section of the shock absorber. An intermediate section 2 is Yjoined to., section l'byascrewlthreaded joint and-is also joined toa lower section by apartition plate l0 scre'wlthreadedto engage sections The lower endof they sectionB is closed by a plug Llalso scrow;threaded thereto. Plate l0 divides the interior ofthe casing'into a pistonchamber A8I and reservoir chamber V9. in communication through vvalved. passages 19.

`rlheplug lis provided'wtha central depending boss whichis adapted to be in-` sertedin anaperture jlfof an attachinglplate orbracket 25 iixeds te theautomebile axle- AA nut 26 willbe placedupon`thebossOto hold the lshloclr Iabsorber upon the .axle bracket. An actuating lever 39 has its free envdvconnected to the automobile Abody-.and includes a shaftl journaledina lateralextension of'.

casing section A cam lever'is'keyed to the shaft flan'dits innerend extends Vto the centralportion ofthe .casingdl and yengages the uppenportion of thepistonrod ll ofthe shockv absorber to move the latter l.upon movement of the actuating .lever..39.

Y The upperportion-of the piston rod ll comprises a tubularmember 28 having its upper endfbifurcated to form spaced upright arms 52 which supportb etween them, a roller 37 on a pin 38." The upper face ofl cam lever v36 contacts with the roller 37, between the arms 52, as shown, and the lower face of the cam the cam lever. wThe-tube 28is screw-threaded at itsY lower end tothe main portion ofthe hollow piston rod 11 which extends into the tube 28 and thus supports the disk 29. A lock uut 27 is provided to moreV securely hold together the parts 11 and 28. Vertically spaced apertures-or ports 17` and 18` are provided in the piston rod 11 below the tube 28, for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The piston rod 11 is guided by a packing 43 and packing nut 22 carried in a sleeve 60 arranged on the upper side of partition plate 10 and a piston 5 is fixed to the rod below this plate.` Piston 5 is provided with packing rings 6 to insure proper compression. The lower` end ofthe piston rod 11 is slidable upon a tubular valve member -12y which extends up intothe rod 11, preferably to a pointadjacent the upper edge of packing `nut 22. Y- v The lower end or stem V5 3 of the tubular valve member 12, is closed and is fittedin an aperture 54 which passes through the plug 4 and the boss 50 thereupon. The aperture 54 is threaded at and a nut 23 engages these threads to tighten a packing 44 within the aperture..Y The stem 53 passes through the nut 23, there being nothreaded connection between the two parts, and terminates below the boss 50. The walls of the tubular valve member 12 are slotted at 13, the slots extending longitudinallyof the valve 12 and being circumferentially spaced. The slots 13 preferably extend along the valve 12 from the plug 4 to the lower side of the partition plate 10, and are tapered so as tobe somewhat smaller at the latter point, vas shown at 13.

'A pointer 24 is secured to the eXtreme lower end of the stem 53 of the valve 12vand serves to indicate the position ofthe slots 13 of the valve 12 with respect to ports 14 in the lower end of the piston rocl 11. lt willbe seen that rotation of the stem 53 will 'change the relative position of the ports 13 and 14 to regulate the flow Aof fluid through theseports.

Apair of preferably arcuate pivoted valve plates 2O are fastened to a sleeve 55 upon the lower side of the partition plate 10 and, when seated, close ports 19 circumferentially spaced about the partition plate. 10. As shown in Fig. 3, the curvature of the valve plates 20'is somewhat greater than that of the sleeve 55 and the plates are provided with inwar ly exslightly longer than the pins 42 and, because of this arrangement, the valve plates may be fitted to the partition plate 10 before the latter is placed upon the piston rod 11, the pins 41 being fitted in openings 56 in sleeve 55 and the plates then being moved transversely of the sleeve 55 to cause the shorter pins 42 to engage the diametrically opposite v openings 57. The partition plate 10 is then placed upon the piston rod 11 and as the walls of the latter 4'are imperforateopposite-the pins 41 and 42, the plates 2Ov 'cannot move vtransversely with respect to partition plate 10 and are thus held in position.

As Ashown in F ig. 1, the shock absorber casing comprises two compartments; a chamberinwhichthe piston, moves and which is divided by the piston into an upper portion 8 and a lower portion 8; and a second chamber or reservoir 9 abovethe partition plate 10 and therefore out of the path of movement of the piston. s

In use, the shockzabsorbercasing would be filled with oil or -other suitable tluid.A The lower end of thejcasingwould preferably be attached to a vehicle axlev bracket 25 and the outergend. of operatingl lever`39 lwouldffbe fastened rto the vehicle body.A When connected to the vehicle in this manner, the parts of thedevice would'vnormally be in the position shown in full lines yin Fig. l of the draw-v ings. Vhen the vehicle moves over smooth roadways anyfmovenient ofthe cam 36 will be taken up by the disc, 3 1 and spring 30, without affecting the position of the-.piston rod 11'. If the shock-is slightly more severe, the oontinued'downward movement of cam lever 36will move the piston rod 11 and piston 5 a short distance. However, as shown by broken lines in Fig. 1, the valves 20, are normally open due to gravity and a slight downward movement of piston 5 would merely force oil from chamber 8"'through port 13 into tube 12l and thence up and out of ports 17 and 18. This slight movement would not move the piston rodf11 suiiici'ently to place the port 17 of the piston rod beneath the upper edge of the nut 22 andV sleeve 60 and vso the flow of oil would. be unrestricted andthe vehicle springs would not be hamper'edjin their action. Also, on the slight resultant rebound 'or Vmovement of the vehicle springsl to normal position, thepiston 5 would move so slightly that it would not close the valves 20 and nolretardation of the vehiclesprings would result.

However, when the Ivehicle is moving over stretches of roadway which 'are so rough as to violently move the car uponv its springs, my shock absorber willretard any violent motion inthe following niannerz-Movement of the vehicle body toward the'aXle will cause operating lever 39 to move the cam lever 36 and rvdisk 31 downwardly. Continued movement of the disk 31 will compress the` spring suliic'iently 'to cause the pislla) will force the fluid from the chamber 8 out through the port 13 in valve rod 12. -This displaced fluid willllow upy through rodV 12 and into piston rod 11 and, finally, through ports 17 and 18 to chamber 9. However, as the piston rod 11 and piston 5 approach the lower end of the chamber 8, the

' port 18 in the piston rod will pass beneath the collar 60 and will thus be closed. Continued downward movement will close'p-ort `17 in the same manner and, at the same time,

i the movement of the piston is being progressively retarded because the port 13 invalve rod 12 is being closed by movementof piston 5. A small portion of fluid will flow into` chamber 8 through port 14 in piston rod 11.V

Some of the fluid will also pass entirely up through the piston rod 11 and will forcibly lubricate the spring 30, cam 36 Vand roller 37. Ports are provided in disks 29 and 31 to permit this flow. The check valves 2Oy will of course be open during downward movement of the piston and'fluid will be drawn'from chamber 9 into chamber 8.

The rebound or movement of the vehicle body away from the axle, will cause Vthe cam lever 36 to move the piston rod 11 and piston 5 upwardly. This movement will be retarded by the fluid in the chamber 8 in the following manner The upward movement of the piston will force the fluid against the check valves 20 and they will be closed, so that the only path of escape for the fluid in chamber 8 will be through port 14 in piston ro-d 11, this port being aligned with theport or slot'1-3 in valve rod 12. Fluid passing through this Vaperture 'will travel through the rod v12 either tochamber 8 or chamber 9 but its flow will be progressively retarded due to the fact that the slot 13 tapers inwardly at its upper end 13', thus considerably restricting any excessive upward movement of the piston It will be understood that the shock absorber may be positioned as mentioned above or the upper part 1 of the casing may be fixed to the vehicle body by any'suitable form of bracket and operating lever 39 may be reversed and connectedv to the axle by a link. The operation ofthe device in the latter position'will be thesame as that lset out above.

I claim p 1. ln a device of the character described,

casing` adapted to contain a fluid, a` partition dividing Vsaid casing into' two chambers,

an operating lever, said casing and lever being adapted to be attached to relatively movable parts of a vehicle, a piston within one ofthe chambers of said casing, a hollow piston rod operatively connecting saidpiston to said lever, said piston rod having ports openingV in'to"b othv olf the chambers of said casin and means -to'progressively-retard the' flow oflluid through said'ports upon movement of said piston and piston rod.

2. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, said Vcasing being divided toforml two chambers, an operating lever, said lever and casing being` adapted to be attached to relatively mov- `)arts of a vehicle, pistonin one of the chambers of said casing, a hollowvv piston rod operatively connecting said piston and lever and passing through both of said chambers, said piston rod having ports opening into both of said chambers, a tubular valve within said piston rod, said valve .hav-

ing ports therein, a port of the piston rod and.

valve being positioned to vary the flow of liquid upon movement of the piston and piston rod. l

3. In a'device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, said cassing` being transversely divided to form a piston chamber and a reservoir chamber, respectively, an operating lever, said casing and said lever being adaptedvto be attached torelativel'y movable parts of a vehiclellfa piston withinthe piston chamber, a hollow Vpiston rod operatively connecting saidA piston to said operating lever, said Apiston rod extending through both the reservoir chamber and the piston chamber and having ports opening into each chamber, a tubular valve member in the piston chamber andV fitted within the piston rod, said valve member having a longitudinal. slot thereinl extending substantially the length of the piston cham'- ber to normally place the piston chamber in communication with the reservoir chamber, said valve memberbeing rotatable to Vand ahollow valve stem within said-piston rod, said valve havingaport therein, the

ports of the piston rod and valve stem being positioned to vary' the flow of fluid between said chambers upon movement of the piston and piston rod, said casing and piston rod being adapted to be "attached torciatively movable parts of a vehicle.

5.111 a device of the character described,

a casing adapted to contain a fluid, -a partition within said Vcasing dividing itsinterior into chambers, a piston in oneof said chambers, a'hollow piston rodA open to' the piston chamber and having an aperture in its wall on the opposite side of said partition, and a tubular valve mounted in said casing and extending into said hollow piston rod, said valve having an aperture which is gradually closed by the movement of the piston.

7. In a device of the character described, Y'

a. casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition dividing the casing into chambers, a piston in one of said chambers, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and open to the piston chamber, said piston rod havinga plurality or apertures providing communication with the other of said chambers, which apertures are gradually closed by the movementl of the piston rod in one direction, and a tubular valve extending into said hollow` piston rod and havingan aperture which is gradually closed bythe movement of the piston.

8. In adevice of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston in said casing, a hollow piston rod passing through said piston and open at its piston end, said piston rod having a plurality ot apertures providing a passage for fluid between opposite sides of said piston, means in said casing adapted to close said apertures seriatim by movement of the piston, and a n tubular valve extending into said hollow piston rod and having an aperture which is gradually closed by the movement of the piston. y y

9. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain alluid, a partition dividing the interior of the casing into chambers, a piston in one of said chambers, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and open to the piston chamber, said piston rod having an aperture providing communication withV the other chamber, and a tubular valve extending into said hollow piston rod andl having an aperture in its wall, the apertures in the tubular valve and hollow piston rod being controlled by movement of the piston to progressively retard the passage of fluid between the chambers.

10. In a device of the character described, a' casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition dividing the casing into chambers, a piston in one of said chambers, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and open to the pistonchamber, said piston rod having an aperture providing communication with the other of said chambers, a tubular valve extending into said hollow piston rod and having an apertureH which is gradually closed bythe movement of the piston, and means ,on said lpartition adapted to close said piston Ysaid chambers, a. tubular-valve extending into said hollow piston rod and having a'port therein, the ports ofthe piston rod and valve being controlled by the movement of the piston and piston rod to progressively retard the passage of fluid therethrough. y

12. Inv a device of the character described, a casing adapted to kcontain a fluid. a ported partition dividing said casing into a^ piston chamberfand a. reservoir chambeig'aJ piston in said piston chamber, a hollow piston rod extending through said partition and having a port open to the reservoir chamber, said port being so positioned as to be controlled by the movement of the piston rod, and a valve stem within saidv casing extending into said hollow piston rod for controlling the passage of fluid therethrough during the movement of said piston rod.

13. In a device of the character described, a casing adaptedto contain a Huid, a partition dividing said casing into a reservoir chamber and a piston chamber and provided with an opening therethrough, a check valve for said opening, a piston in said piston chamber, a hollow piston lrod extending vthrough said partition and having a plurality of apertures providing communication with said reservoir chamber, which f apertures are gradually closed by the movement of the piston rod, and a tubularvalve extending into said hollow piston rod and having an aperture which is gradually closed by the movement of the piston.

v 14. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition dividing said casing into two members, a piston within one of said chambers, 'a hollow piston rod extending through said parti- -ion and having ports opening into each of said chambers, and means in each of said chambers inengagement with said piston rod chamber, a hollow piston rod i passing through said partition and having ports opening into both of said chambers, means to progressively retard the flow of fluid through one of said ports by movement of the piston, and means to progressively retard the flow of fluid through anotherof said ports by continued movement of the piston in the same direction.

16. In a device of the character described,

ber and a reservoir chamber, and provided with an opening therethrough, a piston in said piston chamber, a normally open valve for said opening hinged to the underside of said partition and adapted to be closed only by substantial upward movement of the piston, a hollow piston rod extending through said partition and having ports opening into each of said chambers, and means for gradually closing said ports during the movement of the piston.

18. In a device of the character describe-d,

l a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition dividing said casing into a piston chamber and a reservoir chamber and provided with an opening therethrough, a piston in said piston chamber, a normally open valve for said opening hinged to the underside of said partition and adapted to be closed only by substantial upward movement of the piston, a hollow piston rod extending through said partition and having ports opening into each of said chambers, and a valve extending within the hollow piston rod for gradually closing the passage therethrough during downward movement of the piston.

19. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston within said casing, a hollow piston rod open to the interior of the casing on one side of said piston and having longitudinally spaced apertures in its wall on the opposite side of said piston, a tubular valve extending into said hollow piston rod and having an aperture in its wall adapted to register with one of said piston rod apertures, said tubular valve being adapted to gradually close another of said piston rod apertures upon movement of the piston.

20. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a piston within said casing, a hollow piston rod open to the interior of the casing on one side of ture in its wall, said piston rod having an aperturev onthe oppositeside of said piston adapted to register withsaid valve aperture and. which is l gradually closed bymovement ofthe piston, and said piston rodhaving another aperture which is gradually closed by continued movement rof the ipiston in the same direction.` v l, i Y

21., In a fdevice of the character described, a2 casing adapted tocontain a fluid, a partition dividing said `casing into a piston chamberv and a reservoir chamber, said partition having an opening therethrough, a piston in said piston chamber, a normally open valve for said openingadapted to be closed by substantial movement of said piston in one direction, a hollowv pistonl rod extending through 'said partition and'having ports openinginto` each `of said chambers, and means" for gradually closing said ports during the'inovement of the piston.

22. In a device of Vthe character described, a casingadapted to ontainia fluid, a partition dividing saidcasinginto' two chambers,-

and providedV with an opening therethrough, a piston in one of said chambers, a normally open valve forl said opening adaptedto be closed by substantial movement of said vpiston in one direction, a'hollow piston rod extendingthrough said partition' and having ports .opening into each of saidchambers, and means in each Aof'said chambers in engagement with'said piston rod for gradually closing the piston rod ports to both chambers during the movement of said piston,`

23. Ina device of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition dividing said casing into a piston chamber and a reservoir chamber, and having an opening therethrough, a piston in said piston chamber, a normally open valve for said opening adapted to be closed by substantial movement of said piston, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and hav-- ing ports opening into both of said chambers, means to progressively retard the flow of fluid through one of said ports by movement of the piston, and means to progressively retard the flowvof fluid through another of said ports by continued movement of the piston in the same direction.

211. In a device .of the character described, a casing adapted to contain a Huid, a partition in said casing dividing the interior thereof into two chambers, said partition having an opening therethrough and a normally open valve therefor, a piston in one of said chambers, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and having ports opening into said chambers, and a hollow valve stem within said piston rod, said valve stem having a port therein, the ports of the piston rod and valve stem being positioned to vary the iiow ofuid between said chambes upon movement ofsaid piston and piston ro Y e '25. In a device of the character described, a casing adapted 'to contain a fluid, a partition in said casing dividing the interior thereof into two chambers, said partition having an aperture and a normally open valve therefor, a pistoninone of said cha1nbers,fa hollow piston rod passing `through said partition, said piston rodl having portsV opening into said chambers, andV valve means for gradually closing communication between said chambers through said hollowT piston rod upon movement of said piston in one direction, said partition valve being adapted to close upon substantial movement of the piston in the opposite direction'.l v

26. In a device of the characterdescribed, a casing adapted to contain a fluid, a partition in said casing dividing the interior-thereor" into two chambers, said partition having an aperture therein and a normally open valve therefor, a piston in oneof said chamy bers, a hollow piston rod passing through said partition and having ports to both of said chambers and to both sides ofsaid piston, and a valve in said hollow piston rod for gradually closing communication between one side of said piston to the other during movement of the piston in one direction, the passage through said hollow piston rod from one chamber to the other being closed by Continued movement of the piston in the same direction, and the valve 'for the partition aperture being-closed by substantial movement vof the piston in the opposite direction.

LOUIS L. LOMAR. 

